Cage feat props up Archers bid for overall plum

MANILA, Philippines - De La Salle University not only bested University of Santo Tomas for the coveted men’s basketball title but the La Sallians also seized the upperhand in their race for the UAAP general championship halfway through the 76th season. 

The Green Archers’ ascension to the hoops throne capped a fiery campaign in the first semester of action for the Taft-based bets, who collared a total of five titles in the first 15 events on tap.

The green and while delegation earlier reigned supreme in women’s basketball, men’s table tennis, men’s taekwondo and women’s judo en route to posting a leading 162 points against UST’s 146.

La Salle, which snapped UST’s 14-year rule as general titlists last season, also gained precious points from their runner-up finishes in women’s table tennis, men’s swimming and women’s badminton.

The Thomasians ruled two events in the initial phase – women’s taekwondo and new offering poomsae. Aside from their bridesmaid finish in main attraction men’s caging, the Tigers and Tigresses posted second place finishes in men’s and women’s beach volleyball and men’s taekwondo.

University of the Philippines checked in third at the midpoint with 133 points, building its bid around a sweep of controversy-marred men’s and women’s swimming and silver finishes in women’s taekwondo, poomsae and men’s judo.

At fourth was Ateneo, which tallied 125 points. The Ateneans lost their men’s basketball title after a five-peat but made up with a sweep of men’s and women’s badminton and victory in men’s judo while placing second in women’s swimming women’s judo.

 Far Eastern U stood at fifth with 78 points followed by National U, the men’s beach volleyball kings, with 73, University of the East with 71, and host Adamson, ruler of women’s beach volleyball, with 58.